July 5

You know you're reading the Sun when the murder of two human beings is less important than reporting on railroad-track repairs and a zoning hearing about a parking garage. But if you scroll way down you might find out that Lamar Robinson, 26, and Donyae Bogues, 30, died last night of multiple gunshot wounds.

...and you know you're reading the Sun when the story's out of date. Kevin Dorsey and Dennis Bowers, 18 and 20, were scheduled to go on trial today for killing 15-year-old Kareem Hanks, but Dorsey and Bowers' trial has been postponed to July 20. The alledged murderers were supposed to be on home detention while out on bail, but the company that was supposed to be monitoring them either wasn't, or didn't report the fact that they were missing to the state. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted the pair on October 26, 2004 for first-degree murder, conspiracy to murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, armed carjacking and conspiracy to carjack.

The "Stop Snitchin'" cameraman, Akiba Matthews, was supposed to go on trial today for drug charges, but alas, the trial has been postponed (or po-stoned, as JZ would say) to September 12. Says the prosecutor's office, "Although the State and the defense were ready for trial, the case was postponed because no courtroom was available."

The murder trial of Adan Espinoza Canela, 18, and Policarpio Espinoza Perez, 22, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Thomas Ward. Canela and Espinoza are charged with three counts each of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon, (a knife), in the May 27, 2004 deaths of Ricardo Quesada, Jr., 9, Lucero Quesada, 9, and Alexis Espejo, 10. Canela and Espinoza remain held in the Baltimore City Detention Center without bail. Prosecutors say DNA evidence will figure prominently in the case. (Here's a link to a story about the killings from May 29)

A bail review today, Kevin Armen Jackson, 23, got $250,000 bail. Jackson is currently in the Baltimore City Jail, charged with alleged attempted 1st degree murder, 1st and 2nd-degree assault, and other charges. Don't know the details there, but will investigate.

And in today's bail review of Michael Ward, 28, dude got no-bail status. On December 9, 2004 Ward was involved in the beating of Kenneth Hurt, 45. Hurt was taken to Mercy Hospital for a head injury and was placed in the nursing home unit due to the severe head trauma. He reported that two unidentified black males beat him over the head around the 1500 block of North Eden Street. On January 4, 2004 Hurt died of his injuries. Ward was arrested over the weekend and charged with homicide.

At a hearing today, James Joyner, 27, pled guilty to first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Roger W. Brown sentenced Joyner to life in prison, suspend all but 20 years, the first five without the possibility of parole. On March 9, 2004 in the rear of a residence in the 900 block of Lemon Street, Joyner shot in the back and killed Antonio Izzard, 28.

Two robbers picked the wrong patsy in the Western last night: the intended victim turned out to be a plain-clothes police officer, who shot them both with his service revolver.

July 3

A hero cab driver prevented a three-year-old boy's kidnapping in Fell's Point.

In PG County police are looking for a hit-and-run driver in a Honda Accord who killed a man on a motorcycle.

Anthony "Tony" Lamont Johnson, 37, got eight years for assaulting two police officers.

July 2

There'll be no new trial for convicted child sexual abuser Maurice Blackwell. From Jessamy's office:

State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy announced late Friday that the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office will not pursue a new trial in the pending sexual abuse indictment against Maurice Blackwell. Her decision late Friday afternoon followed a meeting with the victim in the pending case, who was informed of the State's Attorney's decision not to prosecute the sexual abuse charges in a new trial this fall. "The State's Attorney must fairly and reasonably consider each criminal case based on the law, the facts and the evidence. After a thorough review of the sex abuse statute, the original trial transcript, meetings with prosecutors and detectives, and consideration of possible sentencing outcomes, as well as the legal guidelines that outline the requirements of the sex offense registry in Maryland, I reached a decision that I believe is in the interest of justice," said State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. On April 8 the Honorable Stuart R, Berger ordered a new trial after a motion filed by Maurice Blackwell's defense attorney sought to overturn guilty verdicts on three count of sexual child abuse rendered by a Baltimore jury on February 17. The jury acquitted Blackwell of the alleged 1989 abuse charge but convicted him of the 1990-1992 abuse charges. Each felony charge of sexual child abuse carries a maximum penalty of 15 years.

So it sounds like Blackwell is free to go. And in spite of the Attorney's office releasing the statement on a Friday afternoon when most reporters are at the bar, the story has gone international. And here's the link to the Sun story.

July 1

A man has been shot multiple times in Northwest Baltimore.

A 12-year-old Baltimore girl, Raven Randal, is missing in Massachusetts and an Amber alert has been issued. UPDATE: She's been found.

So maybe things could be worse: I was shocked to hear that in the California penal system, an inmate a week dies from neglect or maltreatment.

June 30

Wilton Britton got 15 years for robbing the Provident Bank on Reisterstown Road.

Judge Paul Alpert sentenced police officer Keith Jennings (pictured left), 37, of Billie Holliday Court, to 10 years in prison, suspend all but three years and three years probation at a sentencing hearing today. A city jury convicted Jennings June 2 of one count of perverted practice. Oddly, the jury found him not guilty of misconduct while in office (if it had been missionary that would have been okay, I guess).

At a hearing today Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced Derrick Green, 39, to 45-years in prison. A Baltimore City jury convicted Green April 26 of two counts attempted second-degree murder, two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and felon in possession of a handgun. Judge Schwait ordered that Green serve 20 years in prison for the first attempted second-degree murder count, 20 years in prison for the second attempted first-degree murder count and five years in prison for the felon in possession of a handgun count. Judge Schwait ordered that these sentences run consecutively. Judge Schwait also ordered Green to serve two concurrent 20-year prison terms for each use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence count. On March 26, 2004 Green approached a basketball court located in the 1400 block of Strohmeyer Way, removed a black handgun from his "dip" area and began shooting several times toward individuals on the basketball court. All of the individuals were juvenile boys, two of whom were struck. One suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg and the other suffered a gunshot wound to the left ankle. Both boys were 13 years old at the time of the incident.

At a hearing today Judge David Young sentenced Kevin Gross, 35, to 55 years in prison. A Baltimore City jury convicted Gross May 18 of attempted second-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and felon in possession of a handgun. Judge Young ordered that Gross serve 30 years in prison for the attempted second-degree murder, 20 years in prison, first five without the possibility of parole, for the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence count and five years in prison for the felon in possession of a handgun count. Judge Young ordered all the sentences to run consecutively. On July 19, 2004 Gross entered a house in the 200 block of Dallas Court where William Mobley, 39, was with an acquaintance. Gross ordered Mobley to "kick it out" at which point Mobley gave Gross some money. Gross then demanded more money, pistol whipping Mobley and knocking several teeth out. Gross then fired multiple shots at Mobley, striking him once in the shoulder.

The attempted murder trial of David Ellerby, 32, of the 400 block of E. Lanvale Street, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge McCurdy. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Ellerby May 15, 2003 for attempted first-degree murder, assault, conspiracy to commit murder and handgun violations. Court documents allege that on April 14, 2003 Ellerby attempted to murder Jammar Jones. Ellerby is also charged separately with felony narcotics counts and is pending trial July 6 and a first-degree murder count and is pending trial August 11.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted correctional officer Sherman Lawrence, 21 and inmates Ronald McClary, 35, and Donte Smith, 24, for attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree assault and weapons counts in connection to a stabbing at the Baltimore City Detention Center on May 11. Court documents allege Lawrence, McClary and Smith conspired to murder inmate Ronald Scott, 26. Scott was stabbed in the Baltimore City Detention Center on May 11. Scott survived and remains at the Detention Center awaiting trial July 18 on attempted murder charges. Lawrence is being held at the Detention Center on a no bail status. Smith is being held at the Detention Center on a no bail status and is awaiting trial September 6 on felony drug charges. McClary is an inmate in the Maryland Division of Correction, serving a 10 year prison term following a violation of probation in a felony narcotics case.

Ehrlich announced today that the troubled Hickey School will close November 30.

The city is suing the state over the problems at Central Booking (I guess the state runs Central Booking, not the city. So maybe it's not O'Malley's fault after all?).

Robert Keenan, the "Ecstasy Doctor," was sentenced to seven years in prison.

June 29

More details on last week's murders in the ink.

Relatives of inmates murdered at Central Booking held a vigil last night. Meanwhile, two inmates were shanked at Jessup.

June 28

The murder trial of Donnell Harrell, 18, is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Paul A. Smith. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Harrell November 20, 2003 (that's right, a year and a half ago) for first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Court documents allege that on November 1, 2003 Donnell Harrell stabbed James Hudson, 15, and Eric Lecount, 15, in the 600 block of Cherry Hill Road. Mr. Hudson died as a result of his injuries. Harrell's brother, Michael Harrell, 17, pled guilty May 25, 2005 to first-degree murder in connection to this incident and is serving a 30-year prison sentence. Donnell Harrell is currently being held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Ross Talp, 19, of Park Heights Avenue is scheduled for arraignment tomorrow before Judge Heard. Talp was indicted on June 3 of this year for first-degree murder and for the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the death of his mother, Margo Antoinette Baker. Court documents allege that on April 27 Talp called police to report his mother had been missing since April 26. May 5 an anonymous tipster contacted the Baltimore City Police Homicide Unit and informed them that Talp killed his mother and dumped her body in the woods. Talp allegedly confessed to the murder and told detectives that the body was located in Leakin Park in the 4000 block of Clifton Avenue. Talp is currently held without bail.

The Sun has more on the city's youngest murder suspect, the 13-year old who shot two guys in Northwest Baltimore (mom wore a "Stop Snitchin'" hat to court!), and the four other violent murders of the weekend which brought the year's toll to 133.

In Gambrills, James Sidney, 35, of Hyattsville was shot at a party hosted by a couple of NFL linebackers.

Guess who's also not an O'Malley fan dept: Bmore city's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 has endorsed Steele for Senate. "We love the governor," said the union president (which in this town is the same as saying "we hate the mayor").

Score one for the drunks: after the objections of Jayne Miller, police have canned their new policy of arresting people for DUIs and other traffic violations.

The usual horrors in the blotter, plus a mugged 10-year-old, robbed teenagers and a woman who tried to set her boyfriend on fire.

In Annapolis, a man was robbed of his pants and shot at, and a drunkard went haywire in the parking lot of the Sunset Restaurant.

PETA has added $1,000 reward towards an arrest in the case of the pit bull hung to death in Hanlon Park.

June 27

A week after a fatal stabbing in a Mt. Vernon soup kitchen, the bishop himself is dishing up chow.

Three people were shot at a basketball game Sunday.

On Friday, officer Ronald Johnson got 10 years in the shooting death of D'Koy Dancy, 14.

They may be beaten to death with alarming frequency, but at least prisoners at two facilities the Maryland system get some decent landscaping to look at.

Thirty-year-old Caprice Jackson was shot to death in Northeast Baltimore, on her birthday no less. And two men, Jerrod Hamlett, 23 and Eric Freeman, 21, were alledgedly shot by a 13-year old boy. (Is this improved, expanded blotter a sign that the Sun's crime coverage is improving? Hope so.)

BoCo police are investigating an alledged rape at a Pikesville psychiatric facility.

Sun coulmnist Dan Rodericks is on a mission to help drug dealers go legit.

Associates of the late businessman Robert Clay don't believe he committed suicide. Two gunshot wounds to the head and one bullet is a bit weird, as was the program from his funeral left with a threatening note written on it at the front door of Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr.

Charles Village residents are fighting plans to locate for a new state juvenile social-services center in the area. You know your neighborhood's bad news when its most devoted residents describe it as "an area visited by recovering drug addicts, people on parole and mental health patients."

June 25

... back from a business trip (yes, I do have another job), so let's see what happened this week...

in the "are you effing kidding me" dept., ANOTHER Maryland inmate has died, this time at Central Booking. Twenty-three-year-old Lennard Benjamin was removed from life support Thursday night. Has O'Malley made some kind of statement about this? Have people been fired? Until now I've adored O'Malley, but if there's no statement by next Tuesday at the latest I am not voting for him ever again and I mean it. As our city is more and more reknowned worldwide as a cesspool of violence (thanks in no small part to yours truly, the irony is not lost), businesses move out of town, tourists stop coming, and we all lose. At least the City Council is holding a meeting, la te dah, why am I not impressed? The city has a budget surplus. There is no reason, besides weak leadership, that Booking and Intake shoule be proccessing more than twice as many "clients" as it was designed to support.

Shootings, shootings and then some shootings in the Sun Blotter.

Baltimorean Tavon Nelson, a student at the College of Charleston (SC), was arrested and charged with drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine near a school and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

In Broward County Florida, Patrick Shaw Callahan pled guilty to traveling from Baltimore to Coral Springs to have sex with a 14-year-old girl he met online (3rd story down).

Three baggage handlers at BWI have been charged with stealing from soldiers who were en route to Iraq and Afghanistan.

A book review of "Street Diva," the tragic tale of one of Baltimore's most notorious drug-addicted citizens.

June 17

Just when you think it can't get any worse in the prison system dept: The Md. Correctional Law Enforcement Union says that two internal prison investigators who had been involved in high-profile inquiries, including the beating death of Smoot, were reassigned to lower-level correctional officer jobs by state officials this week, with no explanation.

Jefferey Ricardo Jones, 25, who chased his "girlfriend" through Towson traffic and stabbed her, was arrested.

June 16

Muhammed and Malvo have been indicted in Montgomery County. They were already tried and convicted of one murder each in Virginia.

A warrant on second-degree murder charges has been issued for Nelson Antonio "David" Rivera, 23, of Glen Burnie. Police say he killed Marco Tulio Nova Romero, 20.

Creepy... someone left a threatening note for Attorney General Joe Curran written on an obituary for businessman Robert Clay, who died under highly suspicious circumstances.

A. Robert Kaufman remains in serious but stable condition after being stabbed in the torso and throat by someone whom police think was a tenant in one of his rental properties.

Tuesday was an action-packed day for the city: seventeen-year-old Christopher Porter is wanted for first-degree murder in the May 15 shooting of Damon Aldridge, 22, in the 100 block of Diener Place. (Detecive Moses at Public Affairs is working on getting a photo). Detective Moses was cryptic when I asked him about the case. Was it drug-related, I asked? "Most of them are," he said. "Most of the shootings?" "Yes, but there's an old saying, you can't be a killer and a drug dealer also. It's just like any other business, location, location, location. When you're a killer you have to be on the run." I asked him if there was any truth to the rumor that younger and younger kids are being recruited into the drug trade because dealers know they'll be charged as juveniles. "Yes, juveniles definately deal drugs, but I haven't heard of them being used as killers. Yet."

At arraignment this morning, accused child rapist Charles Carroll pled not guilty. A trial date of August 11, 2005 was scheduled before Judge Allen Schwait. He's being defended by Warren Brown (who was also the defense attorney for Maurice Blackwell).

Don't want to be a crime victim? Then don't put your money in mutual funds. Go to Scottrade (not a plug, just an idea <- disclaimer ). and make your own trades in industries you know something about! And if you don't know or care to learn about business just put your money in a savings account, for Pete's sake! Mutual-fund managers are just rich pickpockets!

In Rockville, Antionette Sparks, the crazy lady who went on a rampage with homemade knives at the Nordstrom May 25 was indicted for attempted murder and some other stuff.

...not Baltimore, but too horrifying not to mention dept: in Pennsylvania a woman is accused of shooting her "boyfriend" in the head and blinding him.

June 15

A federal judge gave DeAndre Whitehead, 20, six years in jail for trying to hire someone to kill a 10-year-old girl and her mother after they testified that they saw him shoot Russell Peterson, 47, their father and husband. DeAndre was acquitted of Peterson's murder in state court last year.

An arraignment for Charles Carroll, 28, is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before Judge Lynn Stewart. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Carroll May 19, 2005 for second-degree rape, four counts of sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 18 and two counts of third-degree sexual offense. Sexual abuse of a minor carries a maximum prison term of 25 years, second-degree rape carries a maximum prison term of 20-years and third-degree sexual offense carries a maximum prison term of 10 years. Court documents allege Carroll sexually assaulted three victims. The alleged assaults occurred during the time frame of December 2004 to April 2005.

In Arraignment Court this morning, Michael Johnson (aka Troy Johnson) pled not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Flenall Carter, 18.

There were seven murders last week, bringing the city's toll to 117. All of last week's victims were African-American men between the ages of 19 and 44. Six were shot and one was stabbed. Note Ditkoff reports that the Waverly neighborhood has had three homicides so far this year.

Two of the eight officers fired last week following the violent death of 51-year-old Raymond Smoot are planning to appeal the state's decision, saying they never touched Smoot and could not have prevented his death. Kandis Harlee, 34, said she saw other officers stomping Smoot, and now-former-officer Anthony Pointer, 44, says he was busy trying to move agitated inmates away from the cell where the homicide took place.

The Blotter reports a shooting (Timothy Sims, 25), and the arrest of two attempted murderers.

The Sun has more information on the stabbing of 74-year-old activist A. Robert Kaufman.

Michael George Sadof, a Bethesda contract employee, got two years' probation and a $50k fine for poking around classified IRS files.

From last week: Anne Arundel county's second homicide was the stabbing of Michael Conway, 38, in a Jessup trailer park.

Could this be what's next for Maryland? California's marijuana dispensaries offer pot peanut brittle, truffles and cakes. As Maryland has had a medical marijuana law for almost two years now, (signed by a Republican no less). So where are our chronic brownies?

June 14 - Happy Flag Day!

Anthony Williams got 30 years for strangling Tamaria Hughes, a crossing guard and mother of four.

Holy Moly! I'm very sad to hear that left-wing activist and perpetual socialist contender A. Robert Kaufman was stabbed in his West Baltimore home during a dispute that sounds unrelated to his political activities. He's in critical condition at the University of Maryland Hospital. Kaufman, the Wild Bill Hagy of Baltimore politics, was also quite the old-world gentleman. We danced at a City Paper Best-of-Baltimore party once and he was quite spry. He's kept social issues in the conversation in elections in Baltimore since your sister drove an i-Roc and has remained a devoted public servant even though no one ever elected him to an office. He really typifies Baltimore's DIY in-your-face balls-to-the-walls ethos, in the best possible way. So here's hoping he pulls through.

This study from Hopkins shows that laws banning specific categories of guns indeed have an effect: Marylanders now get shot with more realiable, quality weapons. And speaking of crime reduction theories, I can't wait to get this book in the mail: That's Ralph Taylor's "Breaking Away from Broken Windows: Baltimore Neighborhoods and the Nationwide Fight Against Crime, Grime, Fear, and Decline."

Patty Jessamy will testify with victim advocates today at 3:00 p.m. before a rules session of the Maryland Court Appeals in Annapolis. The Court of Appeals is considering a decision regarding the public, electronic release of victim and witness personal data maintained in the state's judicial electronic court database. Says her office, Jessamy will urge the Court to block public electronic disclosure of victim and witness personal information in the interest of public safety. This same information is generally recorded in public court records unless access is restricted by the court.

How low can Baltimore's health and human services go? Well, troubled kids who refuse to go to group homes or mental instituations are sleeping on plastic chairs in the Department of Social Services with no pillows or blankets, being fed McDonald's.

Did Ehrlich fire state employees just because they weren't Republicans? Well, duh, isn't that what politicians always do when they get elected? Is that illegal or something?

From the vault: I just found this story about how Maryland's marijuana arrest rate hit a five-year high (har har) last year, with 89 percent of the arrests for possession, and the bulk of the increase coming from Baltimore city and county. The theory goes that cops don't go looking for pot, but they do the buy-bust operations where they arrest the street dealers, replace the dealers with undercover cops... then poor little potheads come wandering down the block to the party house to ask to borrow a cup of weed, and voila, pot bust. So never buy your weed from strangers, kids!

June 13

The attempted first-degree murder trial of Antonio Williamson, 16, Percy Johnson, 17, and Sean Howard, 17, is scheduled to begin 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before Judge Joseph McCurdy, 230 Courthouse East. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Williamson November 12, 2004, Johnson November 22, 2004 and Howard December 1, 2004 with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and handgun violations. Court documents allege that Williamson shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School at 5700 Moravia Drive. Wow, anywhere else in the world, teenagers getting shot in front of a school would make headline news and there would be outrage! But I can't find a trace of this story having been reported anywhere, except maybe implied on this list of Bmore schools with violence issues (check out Harlem Park!).

Two sixteen-year-olds have been charged with robbery, reckless endangerment and weapons possession after the shooting of Baltimorean Sheria Guster in Manhattan. Left, Newsday photo by Robert Stridiron.

At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Troy Johnson (aka Michael Johnson) will be arraigned in room 215 of the Mitchell Courthouse for the alleged murder of Flenall Carter, 18, on December 1, 2004. Johnson allegedly shot and killed Carter on the 4100 block of 10th street.

"Isn't that nice" dept.: Joanne Suder, A Baltimore lawyer, is helping Utah boys who have fled or been kicked out of polygamous Mormon enclaves.

Interesting: under Norris in 1999-2001 Baltimore experienced the greatest two-year reduction in violent crime in the entire country. Now, as reported last week, violent crime in the city is up 4.2 percent. So what's that about? Theories a Choco:
1. Infighting between the police department and Mayor's office and the resulting installation of Hamm over the past year has made lower-level cops less focused on their mission.
2. Drug gangs are having corporate shakeups of some kind, young dealers are trying to make an impression to eliminate co-workers/rivals and get noticed within their organizations.
3. Under Norris, cops got creative with the crime-classification and underreportage ran rampant.
4. Or, Norris was actually a really great Commish and all of his great innovations and ideas worked... but now the people who his administration arrested are now getting out of jail.

June 12

Ugh, in Glen Burnie a husband and wife, aged 62 and 58, were found shot to death in their home following some kind of murder and/or suicide situation. (His name was Dick Boner ?! ... is that for real?)

They say that Manhattan's safer than Baltimore, but that wasn't the case for Baltimorean Sheria Guster, 25, who was shot during a drive-by in the 1200 block of Broadway.

Somewhere in Carroll County, sticky-figered hicks have relieved their neighbors of three show-quality St. Croix lambs, two Sullivan's Show Supply Air Express II cattle blow-dryers, a red 1991 Honda TRX-200 ATV, a tv set, fishing tackle and some good old-fashioned cash.

This record of drug arrests in Washington County shows how much more seriously judges take the white drugs (as opposed to the weed kind) there.

Along with the usual thefts and crack, there's also flaming toilet paper rolls, stolen diamonds and a 16-year-old working undercover to bust the CVS in the Anne Arundel County blotter.

June 11

A 21-year-old correctional officer, Sherman Lawrence, has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder after helping two inmates stab Ronald Scott, 26. And on May 11 and eight officers will be fired for the May 14 killing of Raymond K. Smoot. Notes Senator Verna L. Jones, "The secretary [Mary Ann Saar of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services] and her subordinates, they say everything is going fine, and I'm just not convinced."

Kidnapped by her "boyfriend" Jose Machuca Del Cid, Kelley Lazo of Glen Burnie was saved by sending text messages to her family from her cell phone. She was finally rescued in Long Island!

Fires, a stolen bracelet, a shot 19-year-old, a motorcycle crash and other assorted crimes and misfortunes in the Annapolis police blotter.

Funeral will be tomorrow for Patrick Welsh.

June 10

More on Samuel Richardson (with his nephew, left) from officer Harris of the Baltimore Police office of Public Affairs: Richardson was 30, birthdate 6/29/74, who lived in the 2600 block of Hampden Avenue. He and his girlfriend were both employees of the Rendez-Vous and were closing up the bar on Thursday June 2 when he was shot multiple times. The shooting was not a robbery-- Richardson was definately the intended target. The girlfriend was not hurt. There have been no arrests made in the case.

Jermaine Gaines, 32, left, is facing gun charges related the fatal shooting last year of Officer Brian Winder, and police are protesting Circuit Judge Allen Schwait's ruling that they won't be allowed to attend the trial in uniform as spectators.

A former Coppin State student, Rodman Durham, has been convicted of murdering three bar employees in Washington.

Relatives of 22-year-old Thomas Martin, shot by a transit cop last year, have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city. Says Fox, "Martin was shot and killed last July in the parking lot of a convenience store in east Baltimore. He was a passenger in a car whose driver, according to police, tried to run over a mother and child after a five-mile car chase."

In Rockville, former U.S. Marshall Arthur Lloyd has been convicted of manslaughter, reckless endangerment and handgun charges in the death of Navy Seaman Ryan Stowers.

In Towson, 41-year-old Web Designer (and former owner of Atomic Books) Scott Huffines pleaded guilty Tuesday to misuse of electronic mail. Reports channel 2, "He admitted entering his supervisor's e-mail address on Web sites without her knowledge last year -- hoping she'd be irritated by a flood of spam messages from dating services and other sites." The story has hit the AP Wire (!) Says the Ap story, "the case was unusual because Huffines didn't send the e-mails himself, but arranged to have them sent. An advocacy group says it's the first time a 'spamming by proxy' case has be been prosecuted."

In more frivolous news, a family may sue McDonough for witholding their son's diploma because he wore a bolo tie to graduation.

June 9

An arraignment for Tavon Blackstone, 25, of Glade Court, Eric Kendall Colclough, 29, of Huron Street, Brandon Hall, 18, of Puget Street, and William Younger Woodland, 25, of Hollinsferry Road is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Wanda Keyes Heard at the Courthouse East at 111 North Calvert Street. The Baltimore Grand Jury indicted all four men earlier this year for first-degree murder. Court documents allege that Blackstone, Colclough, Hall and Woodland conspired to murder Lawrence Fields, Jr., 17. Fields was shot inside a residence located in the 2600 block of Huron Street.

Euuuuu! Workers at the 100-year-old Clarence Mitchell Courthouse say that rodent droppings, garbage and dripping mystery soot in the courthouse building are so nasty it's making them sick! Are city officials passing the buck on whose responsibility it is to deal with? Let's start the clock to see what politician makes the first statement. My money's on Peter L. Beilenson. And isn't it ironic that it's the Clarence Mitchell courthouse... wasn't his big thing being against Federal-employee discrimiation ? And aren't the courthouse workers like 90 percent black? Maybe they should stage a walkout and let the judges and "plaintiffs" sort it out. Between that and the city jail, things down there are worse than the '70s IMO.

More yuck: says the State's Attorney's office (in their funny little style):

At a hearing today, Dwayne Raysor, 31, of the 2000 block of E. Lafayette Avenue, pled guilty to second-degree rape. Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced Raysor to 30-years in prison, suspending all but seven-years and five-years probation, and ordered him to have no contact with the victim, to have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18 and to register on the Maryland sex offender registry. Raysor had consensual sexual intercourse with a 12-year old girl in December 2004.

A disturbing story about a naked 20-year-old man, Donald E. Coates, who was shot and killed by a police officer in Glen Burnie.

At a hearing today, Judge Paul A. Smith sentenced Justin Saul Jones, 29, of Bel Air, MD to 10 years in prison, suspend all but four years. Jones pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter April 26. Under terms of the plea agreement, four years in prison was the maximum sentence Jones could have received. On May 30, 2004 Jones was driving a vehicle on interstate 895 in which his automobile struck a car killing Darius Jovan Brown, 12, who was a passenger. Jones hit the back of the vehicle that Brown was a back seat passenger in. The impact of this wreck caused Brown's vehicle to go off the road and flip over twice. The impact of this rear end collision also pushed in the trunk into the passenger compartment causing Brown's death.

An article about California's Corcoran State Prison Protective Housing Unit. And there'll always be pot in Noe Valley, says the Green Cross Dispensary.

June 8

It's Wednesday, Murder Ink day. For the week of May 28 to June 4 there were eight murders, two woman and six men, all of African-Americans, bringing this year's murder total to 110.

Five people were shot in two different incidents last night. At around 8:30 p.m., two men were shot in the 2700 block of Tivoli Avenue (I can't find "Tivoli" on the map, but there's a "Tivoly" avenue east of Loch Raven Boulevard by Clifton Park). They went to Johns Hopkins with serious injuries and are still alive as far as the Internet knows. Then, just after 11:30 p.m., three men were shot in north Baltimore in the 3800 block of Roland View Avenue, which is north of Druid Hill Park between Park Heights and Greenspring. One was pronounced dead and two were taken to Sinai.

Sad end to a sad story: the body of 22-year-old Patrick Welsh of Sykesville, left, was found floating in the Hudson.

The Canela/Espinoza child-murder trial may be dealyed because an attorney has a "malady." Here's a more in-depth story about the case.

Police report: Drunk-as-a-skunk Councilman Moxley swore, laughed and wandered into the road after swerving onto the shoulder and smashing into the SUV of David Rash of Frederick. Rash is one lucky mf: he was changing his tire and could have been roadkill on the Councilman's fender, but he must have been taking a schvitz: he just "felt a breeze and heard his car being struck".

Thirty-seven-year-old Kenneth A Waterstadt of Delaware is being held in Maryland on charges that he bought a plane ticket for a 15-year-old girl so she could come visit a motel room in Joppa. Poor thing, her mother is dying of ovarian cancer.

In crime-plauged PG county, 29-year-old Donald Virgle Spriggs was shot to death during an arguement. And speaking of PGC, lawyers for Wesley Jean Baker argued before the court of appeals that he would not gotten a death sentence had his victims been black. He shot 49-year-old Jane Tyson at Westview mall during a robbery that netted him $10.

Question from CL: "If someone put a non-alcoholic drink in a beer can and was driving around drinking it, does that qualify for an open container and lead to arrest?" Beats me... anyone?

June 7

Danielle Annette Hamrick, a 19-month-old tot, has been kidnapped by her dad. Says the story, "Daniel Hamrick is described as a white male, 5'10", 210 lbs. He has short brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on his left forearm. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. Hamrick was operating a gold 2000 Pontiac Montana Van with Maryland Temporary Plate: 87504P. Mr. Hamrick is known to frequent Annapolis City and the Jessup area of Howard County. Danielle Hamrick is a white female, 19 months old, 28" tall, 27 lbs. She has shoulder-length red curly hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing a yellow baby outfit with Cookie Monster on front."

The gun buyback program has come to a mysteriously swift end.

A federal grand jury indicted Taki Hughes on four counts of possessing a gun and using it to try to kill ATF Special Agent Gabriel Scott Mamock and city Detective James Bradley while they were working together as part of the city's Violent Crime Impact Team (ironic!).

Disheartening stat of the day: while violent crime was down just about everywhere in America in '04, the FBI says it was up 4.2 percent in Baltimore. The news from PG county is similarly dismal, with the murder rate up 30 percent.

A 13-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 15-year old were shot yesterday by a gunman firing in an alley . Also, the Shell atation on West Coldsping was robbed.

So there was a catch to the largesse the Mayor bestowed on Jessamy... her office has to submit to an audit!

..and note 21-year-old Ellicott City native Kristin Mitchell was stabbed by her boyfriend, Brian Landau, in Conshohocken, Pa.

Nathaniel Broadway, 25, rejected a plea deal from prosecutors that would have probably meant 30-year prison terms for himself and Sierra Swann, 18. The pair are charged with first-degree murder in the May 11, 2004, deaths of Emonney and Emunnea Broadway.

In the White Marsh area, Atlantan Zenon Mariano was charged with stabbing three people on Saturday in a fight over a girl, or maybe a bus lavatory. I don't know, I'm too tired to read the whole thing.

BoCo County Councilman Moxley is apologizing for his drunken driving arrest after a crashin a county-owned vehicle Saturday morning on the Baltimore Beltway near Woodlawn. Hic!

Raven and cocaine-deal-setter-upper Jamal Lewis will remain in a halfway house in Atlanta. And Terrell Suggs is waiting for his felony assault trialto begin in Arizona.

In Bethesda, cops were thwarted when they tried to bust a teen party where nobody was drinking.

A mom in Thurmont could get as much as five years for leaving kids in a hot Volvo.